Friends of Jacksen Madsen leave roses Sunday evening Dec. 23 at a makeshift memorial for the 24-year-old who was apparently struck and killed by a vehicle Saturday night on San Tomas Expressway at Budd Avenue in Campbell.

Relatives and friends of Jacksen Madsen said he was always upbeat and positive, a fan of hip-hop music and quite a good trampoline gymnast, the kind of guy you meet once and will always remember. But his life was cut short. The 24-year-old died crossing a busy intersection in Campbell on foot early Saturday morning, according to his family.

"He was really happy, really outgoing," said a sister, Paige Madsen of San Jose. "Always the life of the party."

She said Jacksen Madsen, who grew up in San Jose and attended Prospect High School, was living temporarily with his mother in Morgan Hill. He was working at a printing shop but was hoping for a career in air-conditioning and appliance repair after earning a certificate in those fields.

Stephanie Pell lights a candle for Jacksen Madsen Sunday evening Dec. 23 at a makeshift memorial for the 24-year-old who was apparently struck and killed by a vehicle Saturday night on San Tomas Expressway at Budd Avenue in Campbell. (Karl Mondon / Mercury News)

The California Highway Patrol responded to the incident on San Tomas Expressway, a Santa Clara County highway, and Budd Avenue. According to Paige Madsen, her brother was hit shortly before 2:45 a.m. She said Madsen had been in downtown Campbell with friends Friday night. The CHP had no further details.

Early Sunday evening, friends of Madsen gathered for a memorial vigil at the intersection. Victoria Fox, who had recently become acquainted with Madsen said, "You could meet him just once and never forget him."

He had a wide range of interests, said his sister Paige, from writing lyrics for his own hip-hop songs to soaring through sky-borne back flips on trampolines.

Madsen is survived by his mother, Teri Madsen of Morgan Hill, father Steve Madsen of Sacramento, and sisters Paige Madsen of San Jose and Amber and Brooke Madsen of Sacramento.